Scoop for handling bulk material



SCOOP FOR HANDLING BULK MATERIAL Filed Jan. 6, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

Aug. 12, 1958 M. c. ADDICKS scoop FOR HANDLING BULK MATERIAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Filed Jan. I e, 1954 INVENTOR. Mr dAddz'a/F/I 1/11 III/II I I IIlI/IIII I 1958 M. c. ADDICKS 2,846,789

SCOOP FOR HANDLING BULK MATERIAL Filed Jan. 6, 954 5 Sheets-Sheet :5

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My a'Azzfzlz/rp 2/ VIII I/ ll I United States Patent SCOOP FOR HANDLING BULK MATERIAL Mentor C. Addicks, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application January 6, 1954, Serial N 0. 402,542

3 Claims. (Cl. 37-135 My invention relates broadly to power shovels or scoops, and more particularly to plate-like structures designed to move granular materials.

More specifically, my invention provides a plate-like scoop element which may, if desired, be utilized in conjunction with power mechanism which automatically controls its delivery and return movements, or alternatively, which may be used in conjunction with power mechanism which controls only the delivery movements and relies upon manual operation for its return movements.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a novel scoop of the type above described which is provided with adjustable means for varying the degree of forward inclination thereof during the delivery movements but positively limiting forward inclination beyond 90 degrees of circular arc with respect to the floor over which it is being pulled.

A further and highly important object of my invention is the provision of novel means whereby the degree of rearward inclination of the plate-like scoop may be varied to cause same to dig into or bury itself in the granular material to the desired extent during its return movements, depending upon varying conditions.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class above described which is provided with a U-shaped plow rearwardly of its lower edge portions for the purpose of facilitatingor increasing the bite or burying capacity of the scoop in the granular material being moved thereby during its delivery movements.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described whichhas a toothed lower edge portion to facilitate movement thereof within the granular material but which is likewise provided with anti-friction means for preventing the toothed lower edge portion of the scoop from digging into a floor or the ground over which it is being pulled.

A still further object of myinvention is the provision of a device of the class above described, which is relatively inexpensive to produce, which is much more efiicient in its operation than any structure of this type heretofore produced, which is light in weight and maneuverable, and which is rugged in construction and durable.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of my novel grain scoop in its operative delivery position;

Fig. 2 is a lower end view of the structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation;

Fig. 4 is a view in axial section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view in longitudinal section of a freight car body showing the operation of my novel scoop; and

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 5 but showing a different arrangement of some of the parts thereof.

2,846,789 Patented Aug. 12, 1958 Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates in its entirety the plate-like scoop, preferably and as shown, formed from a pair of generally rectangular sheet steel sections 2, secured together in forwardly opening side by side V-shaped relationship by means of a vertical cross-sectionally V-shaped metal reinforcing rib 3 which overlaps adjacent edges thereof and is welded or otherwise secured thereto. Handles 4, preferably and as shown, formed from metal strips, are positioned one on each side of the central reinforcing rib 3. Secured along thelower edge of the plate-like scoop 1 by means of rivets or the like is a scraper blade 5 which is provided with teeth 6 to facilitate movement or bite of the scoop 1 through granular material.

A drawbar acting leg 7 is pivotally secured, as at 8, to the upper portion of the scoop 1, preferably and as shown, through the medium of a U-shaped bolt 9 which has its threaded ends projecting through the rib 3 and the plate 2, and secured thereto through the medium of nuts 10. As shown, particularly in Figs. 3 and 4, the leg 7 projects forwardly and downwardly from the scoop I and terminates at its lower end in a floor engaging shoe 11 which is intermediate the planes of the side portions of the scoop 1 and forwardly of the tooth-equipped scraper blade 5. A stop arm 12 secured to the intermediate portion of the leg 7 limits inward swinging movements of the shoe 11 in the direction of the tooth-equipped scraper blade 5. Pivotal swinging movement of the leg 7 in a direction to move the foot 11 away from the toothequipped scraper blade 5 is limited by means of an adjustable coupling including a flexible cable 13 which has its opposite ends secured to rings 14 on opposite lower side portions of the scoop 1, and has its intermediate portion selectively seatable in one of a plurality of longitudinally outwardly opening notches 15 on the preferably downwardly and rearwardly arcuate forward surface of the leg 7. A cross-sectionally U-shaped keeper 16 is pivotally secured as at 17 for locking the intermediate portion of the cable 13 within a selected one of the notches 15, when desired. Between the notches 15 and the shoe 11, the leg 7 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse openings 15 for selective engagement of the hook-equipped end of a conventional pull or delivery line 18. The upper end portion of the leg 7 is provided with a plurality of transverse openings 19 for the selective reception of the hook-equipped end of a conventional return line or cable 20.

Also preferably and as shown I secure to the central portion of the rear face of the scoop element 1, adjacent the tooth-equipped scraper blade 5, a generally U-shaped plow 21 which facilitates or increases the bite or burying capacity of the scoop 1 in the granular material X being moved thereby during its delivery movements. To prevent either the teeth 6 or the lower edge portion 22 of the plow 21 from gouging or biting into the fioor Y or the ground over which it is being moved during its delivery movements, I provide anti-friction means, perferably as shown, in the nature of circular members 23 welded or otherwise secured to the teeth 6 and plow 21 so as to project downwardly therefrom and engage the floor Y.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a schematically typical operative hook-up of my structure in a freight car Z. As there shown, the delivery cable 18 and the return cable 20 are secured to power-driven sheaves, not shown, the return cable 20 running over a pulley 24 secured to the wall 25 of the car Z. Intermediate showings of Figs. 5 and 6 respectively illustrate the varying positions of the scoop 1, which may be achieved by securing the delivery cable 18 to various of the openings 15 in the lower end portion of the leg 7. Obviously the higher the opening 15 in which the hook-equipped end of the delivery cable 18 is secured, the less will be the rearward inclination of the scoop 1 during its delivery movements. Thus in Fig. 5, the cable 18 has been secured to one of the lower-most openings 15, as in Fig. 4, whereas in Fig. 6, the cable 18 has been secured to one of the uppermost openings 15' to decrease the rearward inclination of the scoop 1. As above indicated, the leg 7 positively prevents forward inclination of the scoop 1 beyond 90 degrees of circular arc with respect to the floor Y when the scoop 1 reaches said floor. The precise degree of inclination of the scoop 1, with respect to the floor Y, may be adjusted by selective placement of the intermediate portion of the cable 13 in one of the notches 15.

The full line showings on the left and the dotted line showings on the right of Figs. and 6 illustrate the varying positions of the scoop 1 during its return movements, which may be achieved through connecting of the return cable 20 to selected ones of the openings 19 in the upper portion of the leg 7. Here again, it should be obvious that the lower the opening 19 into which the hookequipped return cable 20 is inserted, that is in the direction of the shoe 11, the greater will be the tendency of same to tilt rearwardly, whereby to bury itself within the granular material X. In Fig. 5, with the return cable 20 being secured to one of the lower-most openings 19, the scoop is shown at the right hand dotted line position as being substantially buried in the material, whereas in Fig. 6, with the return cable 20 being secured to one of the uppermost openings 19, the scoop is shown at the right hand dotted line position as riding on the surface of the material.

From the above it should be obvious that my novel grain scoop is capable of almost unlimited adjustments whereby to bring about the greatest degree of efliciency under varying conditions of use due to specific differences of granular material being moved thereby, extent of moisture therein, etc. Particularly is my structure adapted to be used to advantage in conjunction with automatic power shoveling devices of the type disclosed and claimed in my Patent 2,646,965, issued July 28, 1953, and entitled Device for Handling Granular Material.

While I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my novel structure, it should be obvious that same is capable of modification without departure from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a scoop element, a drawbar acting leg pivotally secured :at its upper end to the scoop element at the upper end portion thereof for swinging movements in a vertical plane toward and away from the bottom portion of said scoop element, said leg element normally extending downwardly and for wardly from its pivotal connection to the scoop element and terminating in a floor-engaging shoe forwardly of the bottom of said scoop element, said leg having means for attachment to a pulling cable, a scoop-engaging stop arm on said leg and engageable with said scoop element on 4 swinging movement of said leg in the direction thereof, and a coupling connected to said scoop element and leg and limiting swinging movement of said leg in the opposite direction relative to said scoop.

2. In a device of the class described, a scoop element, a drawbar acting leg pivotally secured at its upper end to the scoop element at the upper end portion thereof for swinging movements in a vertical plane toward and away from the bottom portion of said scoop element, said leg element normally extending downwardly and forwardly from its pivotal connection to the scoop element and terminating in a floor-engaging shoe forwardly of the bottom edge of said scoop element, said leg element having means for attachment to a pulling cable, a scoop-engaging stop arm on said leg element and engageable with said scoop element on swinging movements of said leg in the direction of said scoop element, a flexible cable secured to opposite side portions of said scoop element, said leg element having a plurality of longitudinally spaced notches on the forward edge thereof, the intermediate portion of said cable extending through a selected one of said notches, and releasable means on said leg element for locking said intermediate portion of the cable in the selected notch, said cable limiting swinging movement of said leg element away from said scoop element.

3. In a device of the class described, a plate-like scoop element, a drawbar acting leg pivotally secured at its upper end to the transversely central upper portion of said scoop element and projecting forwardly and downwardly therefrom and terminating in a floor-engaging shoe forwardly of the bottom edge of said scoop element, means adjustably connected to said leg for varying outward swinging movements of said floor engaging shoe but positively preventing the scoop element from being tilted forwardly beyond with respect to the floor, said leg having means for securing a pulling cable thereto below said first-mentioned means and having means for securing a return cable thereto above said first-mentioned means, and means on said leg engaging said scoop element to positively limit inward swinging movements of said leg with respect to said scoop element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 686,203 Campbell Nov. 5, 1901 1,032,358 Frayer July 9, 1912 1,646,536 Housman Oct. 25, 1927 1,694,355 Royer Dec. 4, 1928 2,525,528 Deal Oct. 10, 1950 2,588,657 Pitts Mar. 11, 1952 2,609,621 Babin Sept. 9, 1952 2,743,540 Whisler May 1, 1956 2,763,074 Whisler Sept. 18, 1956 

